Other Experience
I am a psychiatric mental health nurse with over 38 years of experience in a variety of roles: staff nurse, therapist, APRN, faculty, researcher, administrator, consultant and active member of professional organizations. I am currently faculty and coordinator of a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner post master’s certificate program. I have taught undergraduate and graduate level students from multiple disciplines, medicine, psychology, social work, counseling and primarily nursing. I am an advanced practice nurse with prescriptive authority and have skills in therapy and medication management. I currently practice part time at a program for women with mental illness, substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement. I have administered a program for severely mentally ill adults and one that was an access point for persons to access mental health treatment. I was Vice President of Clinical Services for a county board who funded mental health programs. I have experience in obtaining program and research grants.

APNA Members Should Vote for Me Because: I am proud to be a psychiatric mental health nurse. I welcome the opportunity to help facilitate an APNA slate of candidates that members would be proud to have represent and lead them. My leadership style is an inclusive one. I believe the best leaders are guided by the voices of the ones they are privileged to lead. I have a strength in being objective and thinking of what is best for an organization and its members. If elected to the nominating committee, I would use these strengths to put forth strong candidates that would be inclusive of APNA, support APNA’s vision and facilitate professional advancement.

How I Can Help Fulfill APNA’s Purpose As A Scientific and Education Organization: If elected to the Nominating Committee, I can help fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and education organization by advocating that our slate of candidates have the abilities to advocate, collaborate, empower others, as well as be transparent, collegial, and good stewards of the organization. I would also encourage the Committee to look for candidates who were passionate about advancing the vision and purpose of APNA.

Member of APNA Conference Interactive Panel: Change the World Through Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Research (2013)

American Psychiatric Nursing Foundation research grant recipient (2013, with several subsequent presentations for research dissemination)

APNA Janssen Student Scholar (2011)

Other Experience
I am actively involved in psychiatric-mental health nursing education (as a faculty member, preceptor, and consultant), practice (as a PMHCNS and PMHNP), and research (on prevention of violence and mental illness). I have over 10 years of experience in mental health nursing in a variety of settings including psychiatric inpatient, outpatient, residential, community, home, and campus health.

APNA Members Should Vote for Me Because: I am passionate about mental health and want to be actively involved with APNA in a leadership position so that I can advocate for people with mental illness and promote our wonderful mental health nursing profession. I believe that my education, experience, and enthusiasm make me a great candidate for the Nominating Committee so that I can help to ensure we continue to have excellent leaders on our future APNA Board of Directors. I would be honored to be a member of the APNA Nominating Committee and have the opportunity to work collaboratively with my psychiatric mental health nursing colleagues to promote best practices as well as innovative positive change in our field.

How I Can Help Fulfill APNA’s Purpose As A Scientific and Education Organization: I can help to fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and educational organization through my experience as an educator, researcher, and practitioner as well as by working collaboratively with APNA members and the APNA leadership team. I understand the importance of APNA’s mission, and I am happy to invest my time and effort to achieve the goals of our organization.

Carole A. Shea, PhD, RN, FAAN

Present Position
Adjunct Faculty, Egan School of Nursing, Fairfield University
Professor Emerita, California State University-Dominguez Hills
CNS Consultation and Education

Education
Bergen Community College, AAS in Nursing
William Paterson University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Rutgers, the State University, MS in Advanced Psychiatric Nursing
Rutgers, the State University, PhD in Sociology
Allied Health Professions Fellowship, Arthritis Foundation
Certificate Program in Alcohol Studies, Institute for Alcohol Policy and Training, Boston University
Psychiatric Nursing Faculty Internship, National Institutes of Health
Certificate Program, Management for Women in Higher Education, Wellesley College

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Director, College of Nursing, Northeastern University

Chair of Doctoral Program, School of Nursing, Boston University

Chair of Master’s Program, School of Nursing, Boston University

Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Rutgers, the State University

Group Counselor, Human Relations Methods

Staff Nurse and Counselor, Msgr. Wall Social Service Center

APNA Members Should Vote for Me Because: My experience with APNA as a former President and service as Committee Chairs has been the most influential force in my professional life. Having the opportunity to serve on the APNA Board prepared me for career advancement as an educator and academic administrator. Perhaps more importantly, it provided the opportunity to meet colleagues and important leaders who shared my passion for psychiatric nursing and mental health care. I want to share this fabulous learning opportunity with other members. APNA has grown by leaps and bounds and now needs dynamic, forward-thinking leaders who are committed to working collaboratively to advance its mission and goals. As a Nominating Committee member, I am prepared to make connections with other members who will contribute their expertise to continue APNA’s strong advocacy in mental health care and policy on behalf of those we serve, our cutting-edge education programs, and our nursing specialty.

How I Can Help Fulfill APNA’s Purpose As A Scientific and Education Organization: I share the aspirations and values of APNA, demonstrated by my continuing active membership over 25 years+. By virtue of my involvement in several nursing organizations, and employment in different areas of the country, I am in touch with many psychiatric nurses who are making important contributions to the field. My intent is to recruit them to devote their talents to APNA.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

WHY APNA?
APNA connects more than 10,000 members with a dynamic community of psychiatric-mental health nurses, solid resources and programs, and opportunities to advance mental health care and the PMH nursing profession.